Print this page Sedimentation Investigations of Rivers and Reservoirs
Vincent D. Reynolds, MBA, P.E.
Course Outline
This 8 hour course will provide the reader with the practical knowledge to plan, conduct and report the results of a sedimentation study. Technical information will be presented such as sediment yield, river sedimentation, and reservoir sedimentation.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student would have learned the following:
- The differences in soil loss and sediment yield;
- The laws set forth in the water resources development act;
- How to forecast future stream base conditions;
- How urbanization affects water yield;
- The project features that have the greatest potential for sediment problems;
- How gabions can be used for bank protection;
- How to determine the sediment discharge;
- How to determine the topset slope;
- The role that water temperature plays in the transport capacity of the bed material load;
- Methods used for particle size analysis;
- Methods for sediment measurements;
- The project life for sedimentation in flood control reservoirs;
- Factors that determine the amount of sediment trapped by a reservoir or debris basin;
- How the removal of vegetation can affect sediment runoff;
- Which soil particles produce the highest amount of sediment runoff;
- The six degrees of freedom of a natural river channel;
- The effects of sand deposits caused by flooding;
- How to determine the annual suspended sediment yield;
- The effects of channel mining on streams and bridges;
- How to use the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE);
- How to determine the unit sediment load;
- How to determine the annual sediment yield;
- The cause of caving banks;
- Causes of various geotechnical failures;
- The most frequent locations where scour problems occur;
- How to form rainfall models to calculate peak runoff rates;
- The range of coarse gravel;
- How to define degration;
- The most common mineral found in natural noncohesive sediments;
- The effects of catastrophic events on streams;
- How to calculate porosity; and
- How to calculate the specific weight.
Intended Audience and Benefit
This course is intended for geotechnical engineers, environmental engineers, hydrologic\hydraulic engineers, geo-hydrologists, municipal engineers, project managers, and any persons working in civil engineering field or anyone with an interest in Sedimentation Investigations of Rivers and Reservoirs.
Course Introduction
Sediment problems are encountered in various flood control, navigation, and hydropower projects in rivers and streams. Sediment can be cause by rill, gully and sheet erosion as a result of rainfall, snowmelt and construction. Sediments can affect the stream geometry and scour at critical locations. In some cases the effects of sedimentation can cause structural failure such as bridges or geotechnical failures.
Course Content
This course will provide the reader with the practical knowledge to plan, conduct and report the results of a sedimentation study. Technical information will be presented such as sediment yield, river sedimentation, and reservoir sedimentation.
Sedimentation Investigations of Rivers and Reservoirs
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Course Summary
The information presented in this course will provide the reader with the practical knowledge of the Sedimentation Investigations of Rivers and Reservoirs.
Using good engineering judgment is always paramount in any situation. Utilizing good judgment and the knowledge gained in this course will aid the reader with the knowledge to successfully plan, conduct, and report the results of a sedimentation study.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
http://www.epa.gov/
http://www.usace.army.mil/
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
